On this day in…
1896
130 years ago
The first known motorcycle race took place when 8 riders raced the 139 miles from Paris to Nantes and back Read more…
1909
117 years ago
The Metzger Motor Car Company was organised in Detroit, Michigan, US by William E Metzger and Barney Everitt to manufacture Everitt cars Read more…
1937
89 years ago
The Packard Sixteenth Series Sixes, Eights, and Super Eights are introduced Read more…
1940
86 years ago
Continental was designated as a marque separate from Lincoln by the Ford Motor Company Read more…
1940
86 years ago
Adrian Squire, designer of the 1934-1936 Squire sports car, was killed in Bristol, England during a German air raid Read more…
1945
81 years ago
Packard ended its World War II military production program with the completion of the 55,523rd and last Rolls Royce Merlin engine Read more…
1947
79 years ago
Buick registers its stylised stencil “BUICK” logo as a trademark Read more…
1952
74 years ago
Bill Schindler (43) American autoracer, died Read more…
1952
74 years ago
John Fitch drove a Jaguar XK120C to victory in the Seneca Cup race at Watkins Glen, New York, US Read more…
1953
73 years ago
Dick Rathman landed his 10th victory in NASCAR’s top series, outrunning Herb Thomas to win at Langhorne (Pennsylvania, US) Speedway Read more…
1960
66 years ago
Mickey Thompson took another shot at the world land-speed record Read more…
1962
64 years ago
The MGB was launched Read more…
1962
64 years ago
Ford launched the Cortina Mk1 Read more…
1963
63 years ago
The 1964 Plymouths were introduced Read more…
1970
56 years ago
Tyrrell made its F1 debut at Mont Tremblant, Canada Read more…
1979
47 years ago
After being fired from the Ford presidency, Lee Iacocca was elected chairman of the failing Chrysler Corporation Read more…
1984
42 years ago
Twelve people were killed when a suicide car bomber attacked the US embassy complex in Beirut, Lebanon Read more…
1985
41 years ago
Raymond W Stanley, son of steam car pioneer Francis E Stanley, died in York Harbor, Maine, US having spent his later years preserving and promoting the legacy of the Stanley Steamer Read more…
1987
39 years ago
Alain Prost recorded his 28th career win – beating the record of 27 held by Jackie Stewart since 1973 – at an event-filled Portuguese Grand Prix, his relentless harrying of long-time leader Gerhard Berger paying off two laps from the end when Berger spun his Ferrari Read more…
1989
37 years ago
Richie Ginther (59), racecar driver from the United States, died Read more…
1992
34 years ago
Ricky Rudd held off Bill Elliott to win the Peak AntiFreeze 500 at Dover Downs International Speedway, Delaware (US) Read more…
2003
23 years ago
Just 11 months after the prototype 170-mph Invicta S1 sportscar made its world debut at the British Motor Show in Birmingham, the Invicta Car Company proudly handed over its very first customer car Read more…
2004
22 years ago
The Manchester United striker, Ruud van Nistelrooy was fined £60 by Trafford magistrates for speeding late at night in March 2005 Read more…
2005
21 years ago
Fiat of Italy struck a deal with Zastava of Kragujevac, Serbia, to make up to 16,000 cars a year Read more…
2006
20 years ago
The current record holder of the British Land Speed record is Vampire, driven by Collin Fallows, who hit a speed of 300 Read more…
2006
20 years ago
TVR abandoned plans to move to a new production facility in Lancashire Read more…
2007
19 years ago
Automobili Lamborghini presented the new Lamborghini Reventón, whose exterior styling was inspired by “the fastest airplanes” Read more…
2011
15 years ago
The UK’s first commercial hydrogen filling station opened in Swindon, Wiltshire, Capable of filling fuel cell and other hydrogen fuelled vehicles with gaseous hydrogen at 5,000psi and 10,000psi pressures, the single-pump facility is located within the Honda site, but is open to members of the public who have undergone a BOC safety training course – it even gives Nectar points with hydrogen fuel purchases Read more…
2011
15 years ago
GM and the UAW unveiled a modest 4-year pay agreement Read more…
